U.S. patent number 6,910,236 [Application Number 10/667,438] was granted by the patent office on 2005-06-28 for mattress leg rest section for an articulatable bed convertible to a chair position.
Invention is credited to Pierre Rene.
United States Patent |
6,910,236 |
Rene |
June 28, 2005 |
Mattress leg rest section for an articulatable bed convertible to a
chair position
Abstract
An articulated bed convertible to a chair position is described.
The bed comprises a mattress formed by a backrest section, a seat
rest section and a leg rest section. The mattress backrest section
and seat rest section are secured to a support frame. Articulating
linkages are secured to the frame to articulate the sections. The
support frame is elevated from a floor surface by a frame assembly
having legs or casters to engage with a floor surface. The leg rest
section of the mattress is secured to a retractable support frame.
The mattress has at least a compressible section formed of
compressible material. Compressible interconnecting members
compress the compressible material to shorten the length of the
compressible section. The compressible material is restrained as it
is compressed and decompressed when the support frames are
displaced from a horizontal position to an articulated chair
position.
Inventors: |
Rene; Pierre (Nicolet, Quebec,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
33494572 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/667,438 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2003 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 11, 2003 [CA] |
|
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2431805 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/624; 5/184;
5/713; 5/651; 5/618 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
17/163 (20130101); A61G 7/015 (20130101); A47C
23/005 (20130101); A47C 20/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
17/00 (20060101); A47C 20/04 (20060101); A47C
17/16 (20060101); A47C 20/00 (20060101); A47C
23/00 (20060101); A47C 27/00 (20060101); A61G
7/015 (20060101); A61G 7/002 (20060101); A64G
007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/53.1,618,624,648-651,181,184 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Shackelford; Heather
Assistant Examiner: Conley; Fredrick
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Renault; Ogilvy Houle; Guy J.
Claims
I claim:
1. An articulated bed convertible to a chair position, said bed
comprising a mattress formed of sections including a leg rest
section, said mattress sections being secured to respective support
frames, articulating linkage means to articulate said support
frames, said mattress leg rest section being secured to a
retractable support frame, means to support said support frames
elevated from a floor surface, said leg rest section of said
mattress having at least a compressible section thereof formed of
compressible material, compressible interconnecting means to
compress said compressible material to shorten the length of said
compressible section, restraining means to restrain said
compressible material as it is compressed and decompressed when
said support frames are displaced from a horizontal position to an
articulated chair position and vice versa, said compressible
section is constituted by a high density soft foam piece material
having an undulated surface section defining peaks and valleys
formations dimensioned and positioned such that said compressible
means can cause said peaks formations to be displaced closer to one
another within said valleys formations to compress said soft foam
piece, said compressible interconnecting means comprises a pair of
rigid connecting members interconnected together by interconnecting
telescoping means to cause guided displacement of a displaceable
one of said rigid members relative to a stationary one of said
rigid members, said displaceable one of said rigid members being
connected to displacement means, said interconnecting telescoping
means being constituted by at least a pair of telescoping
interconnecting members secured between said rigid members, said
telescoping interconnecting members being retained captive in said
soft foam piece in a solid section of said foam niece under said
undulated surface section.
2. An articulatable bed as claimed in claim 1 wherein said peaks
and valleys formations are alternating peaks and v formations.
3. An articulatable bed as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
telescoping interconnecting members are retained captive in
respective elongated cavities formed in said soft foam piece under
said undulated surface section.
4. An articulatable bed as claimed in claim 3 wherein said
elongated cavities are elongated channels formed in a lower surface
of said soft foam piece, said undulated surface section being
formed in a top surface of said soft foam piece.
5. An articulatable bed as claimed in claim 4 wherein said soft
foam piece is a rectangular block of Styrofoam material having a
predetermined thickness.
6. An articulatable bed as claimed in claim 5 wherein said foam
piece is a foam block secured to said rigid members at opposed ends
thereof by glue.
7. An articulatable bed as claimed in claim 3 wherein said
restraining means is constituted by a fabric material tube spot
glued in each said elongated cavities, said telescoping
interconnecting members extending in a respective fabric material
tube, telescoping tubes secured between said pair of rigid members
and extending transversely therebetween, said rigid members being
disposed parallel to one another and having securement means for
connection to a displaceable leg rest section support frame.
8. An articulatable bed as claimed in claim 7 wherein said fabric
material tube comprises a double material tube having an outer
Neoprene.RTM. layer for improved adherence, and an inner Nylon.RTM.
layer to reduce friction with said telescoping interconnecting
members.
9. An articulatable bed as claimed in claim 7 wherein said tubular
members are hollow telescoping aluminum tubes, and a nylon bushing
disposed between said tubes, therebeing three of said telescoping
tubes secured between said pair of rigid members and extending
transversely therebetween, said rigid members being disposed
parallel to one another and having securement means for connection
to a displaceable leg rest section support frame.
10. An articulatable bed as claimed in claim 9 wherein said
displaceable leg rest section support frame has a stationary frame
section and a sliding frame section constituting said displacement
means, connecting means uppermost of said stationary frame section
and lowermost of said sliding frame section, said rigid members
being immovably connected to a respective one of said connecting
means.
11. An articulatable bed as claimed in claim 10 wherein said
securement means and connecting means are fastener receiving
through bores, and fasteners for interconnecting said rigid members
to said displaceable leg rest section support frame through said
through bores.
12. An articulatable bed as claimed in claim 10 wherein said bottom
displaceable frame section is secured to a displaceable device
constituting said displacement means.
13. An articulatable bed as claimed in claim 12 wherein said
displaceable device is one of an electric motor drive linkage, a
pneumatic drive linkage, an hydraulic drive linkage or a manually
operable drive linkage.
14. An articulatable bed as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
mattress sections comprise a backrest section, a seat rest section
and said leg rest section all said sections being disposed in a
single envelope.
15. mattress as claimed in claim 14 wherein, said compressible
interconnecting means comprises a pair of rigid connecting members
interconnected together by interconnecting telescoping means to
cause guided displacement of a displaceable one of said rigid
members relative to a stationary one of said rigid members, said
displaceable one of said rigid members being connected to
displacement means.
16. A mattress as claimed in claim 15 wherein said soft foam piece
is a rectangular block of Styrofoam material having a predetermined
thickness.
17. A mattress as claimed in claim 16 wherein said peaks and
valleys formations are curved peaks and valleys formations defining
a wave cross-section.
18. An articulatable bed as claimed in claim 1 wherein said peaks
and valleys formations are curved peaks and valleys formations
defining a wave cross-section.
19. An articulatable bed as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bed is
a hospital bed.
20. A mattress leg rest section for use with an articulated bed
convertible to a chair position, said mattress leg rest section
comprising at least a compressible section formed of compressible
material and having an undulated surface section defining peaks and
valleys formations dimensioned such as to be compressed by
compressible interconnecting means to cause said peaks formations
to be displaced closer to one another within said valleys
formations to shorten said mattress leg rest section, said
telescoping interconnecting members being retained captive in
respective elongated cavities formed in said soft foam niece under
said undulated surface section.
21. A mattress as claimed in claim 20 wherein said peaks and
valleys formations are alternating peaks and valleys
formations.
22. A mattress as claimed in claim 21 wherein said elongated
cavities are elongated channels formed in a lower surface of said
soft foam piece, said undulated surface section being formed in a
top surface of said soft foam piece.
23. A mattress as claimed in claim 22 wherein said fabric material
tube comprises a double material tube having an outer Neoprene.RTM.
layer for improved adherence, and an inner Nylon.RTM. layer to
reduce friction with said telescoping interconnecting members.
24. A mattress as claimed in claim 20 wherein said restraining
means is constituted by a fabric material tube spot glued in each
said elongated cavities, said telescoping interconnecting members
extending in a respective fabric material tube, telescoping tubes
secured between said pair of rigid members and extending
transversely therebetween, said rigid members being disposed
parallel to one another and having securement means for connection
to a displaceable leg rest section support frame.
25. A mattress as claimed in claim 24 wherein said tubular members
are hollow telescoping aluminum tubes, and a nylon bushing disposed
between said tubes, therebeing three of said telescoping tubes
secured between said pair of rigid members and extending
transversely therebetween, said rigid members being disposed
parallel to one another and having securement means for connection
to a displaceable leg rest section support frame.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a mattress leg rest section for
use with an articulatable bed which is convertible to a chair
position and wherein the mattress leg rest section is made of
compressible material secured to a retractable framework.
BACKGROUND ART
It is known to construct articulatable beds which can be
convertible to a chair position and this is particularly so with
respect to hospital beds. For example, such a bed is described in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,264. Reference is also made to U.S. Pat. No.
6,141,806 which relates to a bariatric bed and in both these
patents the leg section of the bed is compressible by removing air
from an extendible cushion. When the bed is moved to a seating
position it is necessary to compress the leg rest section and this
is achieved by providing an inflatable bag which is restrained and
which is extendible by pumping air in the bag and compressible by
releasing air from the bag. Such extendible leg rest sections have
not functioned adequately and are problematic. For example, they
require an air compressor and control devices for admitting and
releasing air from the inflatable bag. This equipment is costly and
requires extra space for mounting under the bed. It is also noisy.
Also, the bag does not provide a solid support surface as any load
on the bag displaces air and makes the support surface unstable.
These bags can also be punctured and they don't offer safety
features which are paramount with hospital beds. These bags also
often need to be adjusted by an operator. With this type of bed
construction it is not possible to provide a mattress wherein all
the mattress sections are located in a single fabric envelope, due
to the compression of the inflatable bag when air is released.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a mattress leg
rest section for use with an articulated bed convertible to a chair
position and which substantially overcomes the above-mentioned
disadvantages of the prior art.
It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a
mattress leg rest section which is compressible and which offers a
rigid support surface when in an extended position or a compressed
position and wherein all of the mattress sections can be contained
in a single envelope.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
compressible mattress formed from a high density soft foam piece
material having an undulated surface section which is compressible
and wherein the foam piece is restrained during compression and
decompression.
According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present
invention provides a mattress leg rest section for use with an
articulated bed convertible to a chair position. The mattress leg
section comprises at least a compressible section formed of
compressible material and having an undulated surface section
defining peaks and valleys formations dimensioned such as to be
compressed by compressible interconnecting means to cause the peaks
formations to be displaced closer to one another within the valleys
formations to shorten the mattress leg rest section.
According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention
there is provided an articulated bed convertible to a chair
position. The bed comprises a mattress formed of sections including
a leg rest section. The mattress sections are secured respective to
support frames. Articulating linkage means is provided to
articulate the support frames. The leg rest section of the mattress
is secured to a retractable support frame. Means is provided to
support the support frames elevated from a floor surface. The
mattress has at least a compressible section thereof formed of
compressible material. Compressible interconnecting means is
provided to compress the compressible material to shorten the
length of the compressible section. Restraining means is provided
to restrain the compressible material as it is compressed and
decompressed when the support frames are displaced from a
horizontal position to an articulated chair position and vice
versa.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an example of an articulated bed support frame to which
the mattress leg rest section of the present invention is
secured;
FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmented plan view showing the retractable leg rest
support frame in a retracted position whereas in FIG. 1 it is
illustrated in an extended position;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the mattress sections
incorporating the mattress leg rest section of the present
invention;
FIG. 5 is a side view showing the mattress sections of FIG. 4
secured to articulatable support frames;
FIG. 6 is a side view showing the articulated bed disposed in a
chair position;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the construction of the
compressible foam piece section incorporated in the leg rest
section of the mattress;
FIG. 8 is a plan view, partly fragmented illustrating the
construction of the interconnecting telescoping members retained
captive in the soft foam piece in a solid foam section under the
undulated surface section thereof;
FIG. 9 is a fragmented section view showing the interconnection of
the telescoping tubes with a bushing interposed between the tubes,
and
FIG. 10 is a fragmented cross-section view illustrating the
construction of the restraining means which is constituted by a
composite fabric material tube which is glued in elongated cavities
formed along the underside of the compressible foam piece
section.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3
there will be described the construction and operation of an
articulatable bed support frame which is known in the prior art and
to which the compressible mattress leg rest section of the present
invention is secured. However, these support frames may be
constructed differently provided they have a retractable leg rest
section to which the compressible mattress leg rest section of the
present invention can be secured to.
As hereinshown the articulated support frame 10 comprises a
backrest support frame 11, a seat rest support frame 12, and a
retractable leg rest support frame 13. These support frames 11, 12
and 13 are interconnected together through linkages 14, as better
shown in FIG. 2 and to an attachment frame 15 which is in turn
secured to an elevating frame 16 hereinshown in phantom line and
having floor supports or casters 17 to support the bed on a floor
support surface 18.
The retractable leg rest support frame 13 has a sliding frame
section 19 which slides over a stationary frame section 20 to
adjust the length of the leg rest support frame 13. It is necessary
to retract the sliding frame section 19 over the stationary frame
section 20 to shorten the length of the retractable leg rest
support frame when the support frame sections 11, 12 and 13 are
articulated to a seating position as shown in FIG. 6. However, when
the retractable leg rest section 13 is retracted to the position of
FIG. 6, it is necessary to retract the sliding frame section 19 to
shorten the length of the retractable leg rest section 13 in order
for a patient initially lying on the bed to be brought to a sitting
position and being able to disembark the chair if necessary.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 the retractable leg rest support frame is
provided with attachments 21 for fastening a compressible mattress
thereto.
Referring now to FIG. 4 there is illustrated the mattress sections
which are securable to the frame sections. As hereinshown the
mattress sections comprises a backrest mattress section 23, a seat
rest mattress section 24 and the leg rest mattress section 25 of
the present invention. These sections are secured to the support
frames 11, 12 and 13 as illustrated in FIG. 5 with the backrest
mattress section 23 secured to the backrest support frame 11, the
seat rest mattress section 24 secured to the seat rest support
frame 12 and the compressible leg rest mattress section 25 secured
to the retractable support frame 13.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 the support frame sections are
articulated by the linkages 14 and pivot connections such as
identified by reference numerals 26 and guide track 27. A piston 28
which is hydraulically or pneumatically operated causes the frame
sections to be displaced to desired positions. Similarly, the
sliding frame section 19 of the retractable leg rest support frame
13 can be displaced by pneumatic, hydraulic or mechanical means not
shown. The bed support frames can also be lowered with respect to
the floor support surface 18 by hydraulic, pneumatic, electric or
mechanical means not shown but obvious to a person skilled in the
art.
With reference now to FIGS. 7 to 10 there will be described the
construction of the mattress leg rest section of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 7 the leg rest mattress section 25 is
comprised of a high density soft foam material block 26 having an
undulated surface section 27 defining peaks formations 28 separated
by valleys formations 29. These peaks and valleys formations are
dimensioned such that when the block is compressed from opposed
retractable ends 30 and 34, the peaks formations 28 will be
displaced closer to one another within the valleys formations
whereby to compress the soft foam block 26 between its ends to
shorten the block. As hereinshown the peaks and valleys are
disposed in an alternating manner.
In order to compress the soft foam block there is provided
compressible interconnecting means in the form of a pair of rigid
connecting members 33 and 34 which are interconnected together by
interconnecting telescoping means in the form of telescoping tubes
35 and 36. The tube 36 slides into tube 35 and the tubes are
displaceable in translation with respect to one another to compress
and decompress the soft foam block 30. As hereinshown the tubes are
aluminum tubes and are separated by a nylon tubular bushing 37 as
shown in FIG. 9 to prevent friction and wear of the tubes. There
are 3 hollow telescoping aluminum tubes 35 as shown in FIG. 8 but
it is to be understood that there could be 2 or more than 3 of
these tubes. These telescoping tubes are connected to the rigid
connecting members 33 and 34 by suitable means such as fasteners or
welding attachments 38 and the tubes are disposed between
transverse rigid connecting members as hereinshown. The rigid
connecting members 33 and 34 are retained parallel to one another
and have attachment means in the form of through bores 39 for
connecting to the attachments 21 of the sliding frame section 19
and stationary frame section 20 of the retractable leg rest support
frame 13. Fasteners, not shown, are used to interconnect the
connecting members 33 to their respective attachments 21.
It is pointed out that the rigid connecting members 33 and 34 are
secured to the connectable ends 31 and 30 respectively and this
securement can be achieved in many ways. For example as shown in
FIG. 8 opposed ends of the foam block 26 may be glued, such as
shown at 40, to a flat top surface of these rigid connecting
members. On the other hand, these rigid connecting members may be
provided with a transverse vertical connecting flange 42 to abut
the end walls 41 of the block and that could be glued to the lower
portion of the end wall. Longitudinal channels or cavities 46 are
also formed in the solid bottom section 45 of the block whereby to
accommodate the telescoping tubes 35 therein. These telescoping
tubes are retained captive in a respective one of the cavities 46
and the reason for this is to prevent buckling of the foam block
when compressed. It is important that when the foam block is
compressed that it is maintained in a substantially common
horizontal plane in order to cause the peaks formations to compress
against one another and deform, with the valleys allowing for the
maximum desired compression, which is dependent on the length of
displacement of the sliding frame section 19 of the retractable leg
rest support frame 13. It is also pointed out that the connectable
ends 30 at opposed ends of the soft foam block 26 may have solid
sections of the high density soft foam.
With reference now to FIG. 10 there will be described the
restraining means that retains the compressible material in a
substantially uniform plane as it is compressed and decompressed.
This restraining means is constituted by a fabric material tube 50
which is hereinshown as a double layer material tube having an
outer neoprene layer 51 and an inner nylon layer 52 which are
secured together such as by gluing or stitching to form the
elongated material tube 50. The reason for the outer neoprene
material is that such material has excellent adherence properties
when glued to another surface. As hereinshown this tubular material
is glued inside the channels 46 by the application of glue spots 47
within the channel. Glue spots may be provided under the peaks
formations 28 and at the ends and the glue must permit the material
tube 50 to also compress. When the fabric tube is glued the
telescoping tubes are disposed therein whereby the tube 50 can
retain its shape during the time the glue sets. Of course there may
be sufficient glue to fill the interstices 53 within the channel
under the peaks formations. The glue also needs to have flexibility
during compression and decompression of the foam block 26.
Therefore, it can be seen that the foam block is attached to the
telescoping tubes 35 and the frames 33 and 34 through the fabric
sleeve. The inner nylon sleeve 52 provides excellent frictional
characteristics with the outer surface 35' of the outer tube
35.
As shown in FIG. 6 the leg rest mattress section 25 as well as the
backrest section 23 and seat rest section 24 are all disposed
within a single envelope or bed sheet 55 and during compression
this envelope is squeezed within the valleys formations 29 of the
leg rest mattress section 25. When decompressing, it is released.
Accordingly, it is not necessary to have different envelopes for
each of the mattress sections.
Although the articulated bed as hereinshown and described is
primarily for hospital use it is also pointed out that the mattress
leg support section of the present invention can be used on
articulated beds not intended for hospital patients. For example,
it could be secured to wheelchair structure of the type as shown in
aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,806 or other chair/bed designs
and wherein a bed ridden person can convert his bed to a chair and
displace himself on wheels which are actuated by the hands of the
patient. The bed can also be disposed at various intermediate
positions, from a seated position to a horizontal bed position, for
purposes of relaxation or for any other purpose. Accordingly, it is
not intended to limit the use of the mattress leg rest section as
herein described.
It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any
obvious modifications of the embodiments described herein, provided
such modifications fall within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *